Hello everyone,
Last week the APPG on Brain Tumours met and in our update last Friday we focused on the work we do, as providers of the secretariat, to ensure smooth running of meetings, good attendance and the following up of resultant actions.
What we didn’t cover was the contribution from Minister Hodgson, who joined us for the whole meeting.
At the opening of the meeting, the Minister stated she was there to listen and there were many in the room who were very keen to share their views. We also had questions sent in by many of you. We are currently making sure we have answers from the Minister on some of the areas she didn’t have time to address during the meeting.
However, Minister Hodgson came armed with some pre-prepared remarks which her office has kindly shared, so what follows is a flavour of what the Minister said to the packed room.
She began by saying: “Thank you all for taking the time to join today and for everything the Brain Tumours APPG does to advocate for brain cancer patients, push for better outcomes, and keep the government focused on where change is needed most.”
The Minister continued: “Rare and less common cancers, including brain tumours, are a priority for this government, which is why this is the first ever cancer plan with a chapter on rare cancers.”
When addressing the need for greater research, she said “This government is committed to supporting brain cancer research. Government responsibility for delivering research into brain cancer is shared between the Department of Health and Social Care, with research delivered via the NIHR, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UKRI. Investment in brain cancer research across UKRI and NIHR since 2018/19 has included at least £46.8 million from UKRI (up to end of financial year 2023/24) and £45.2 million in direct programmatic funding from NIHR up to launch of the National Cancer Plan in February 2026.”
She reassured the research community by saying: “This funding does not represent a ceiling in terms of brain tumour research that can be supported by the NIHR. We remain committed to funding high-impact, high-quality cancer research and continue to encourage applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including brain cancer. New NIHR investment, announced through the National Cancer Plan, will help researchers and clinicians understand the disease better, test new treatments earlier and make trials available to more adults and children closer to home; this has the potential to shift the dial and position the UK as a leading location for brain tumour research.”
Once again, we thank the Minister for joining us, even if what we heard we have heard before. It is the job of the APPG to unpick some of these lofty ambitions and statements and develop a framework to assess just what impact they have and what direct impact is being felt – this work, of course, is underway and we will continue to push where able and appropriate, support when helpful and update you on a weekly basis.
Next week, on Monday (15th June) Baroness Finlay, in the House of Lords, will ask a question on “Pharmaceutical and medical technology industries: diagnosis and treatment of rare cancers” and we have offered a briefing on this as requested by her office. Later that day the Westminster Hall debate, triggered by the Brain Cancer Justice petition, will take place. Again, we have spoken with Parliamentarians taking part and we look forward to a full day at Westminster that we hope will deliver cause for optimism and a pathway to better, quicker progress.
Baroness Finlay will be asking her question soon after 14:30 and the Westminster Hall debate will commence at 18:00. You can watch both events on Parliament TV.
There's still time to contact your MP to ask them to attend the debate. You can find your MP here.
Updates from next Monday and the rest of the week will be in our weekly campaigning update, in your inbox next Friday as usual.
Wishing you all a peaceful time until then.
Karen, Hugh, Katherine and Jana
